on Dharma. O lord among sages! Listen to the names of Dharma’s wives—
Shraddha, Lakshmi, Dhriti, Tushti, Pushti, Medha, Kriya, Vasu, Buddhi,
Lajja, Shanti, Siddhi and Kirti.675 These are the thirteen. The eleven younger
and virtuous daughters, with excellent eyes, Khyati, Sati, Sambhuti, Smriti,
Priti, Kshama, Sannati, Anurupa, Urja, Svaha and Svadha, were
respectively married to Bhrigu, Bhava, Marichi, the sage Angiras, Pulastya,
Pulaha, Kratu, supreme among rishis, Atri, Vasishtha, Vahni676 and the
ancestors. Bhrigu and the other supreme sadhakas accepted these daughters,
Khyati and the others. Thus, the three worlds, with mobile and immobile
objects, were filled everywhere. In this way, following the commands of
Ambika’s lord and depending on their karma, many beings were born.
There were many bulls among brahmanas too. In a different kalpa, Daksha
is said to have had sixty daughters. O Narada! Following the norms, Daksha
bestowed ten of these on Dharma, twenty-seven on the moon, thirteen on
Kashyapa, four on the supremely beautiful Tarkshya and two each on
Bhrigu, Angiras and Krishashva. They had many offspring, who spread
over everything mobile and immobile. O supreme among sages! Following
the norms, Daksha bestowed ten daughters on the great-souled Kashyapa.
Their offspring spread over the three worlds, mobile and immobile. There
was no space, mobile or immobile, that was empty. Beginning with the
nether regions of Patala and all the way up to Satyaloka, the offspring born
from Daksha’s daughters, devas, rishis, daityas, trees, birds, mountains and
herbs covered everything mobile and immobile. Everything in the cosmic
egg was covered. Nothing was empty. In this way, following Shambhu’s
command, Brahma completed the creation in the proper way.’”’
‘“‘Rudra always protected Sati at the tip of his trident. Earlier, Shambhu,
who pervades everything, created her for the sake of his austerities.
Thereafter, for the task of the worlds, she was born through Daksha. To
save his devotees, he engages in many pastimes. Shiva is said to have
divided himself into three—Vaikuntha from the left flank, I from the right
flank and Rudra from the heart. Vishnu, Rudra and I are said to represent
the three gunas. Shiva is the supreme and undecaying brahman. He is
himself always without gunas. Vishnu is said to represent sattva, I rajas and
Rudra tamas. But this is only the way the world perceives our activities.
The reality is different. Vishnu represents sattva on the outside but has
tamas inside. Rudra represents tamas outside but has sattva inside. O sage!
I represent rajas everywhere, inside and outside. The divine goddess677 is